Aztec DBQ

Tyler Phan
Ms. Trevino
World History Honors Period 3
February 24, 2015
Aztec DBQ
What would one leave behind if one were to be remembered by this said thing? The
Aztecs left behind their greatest accomplishments, and destroyed what can be seen as their weaknesses. The history of the Aztec civilization is still unclear due to many found biased sources. Some sources with Aztec bias and some others with Conquistador bias. What is known, however, is that the Aztecs were a civilization in Tenochtitlan, which is now present­day site of
Mexico City, in the years 1350 to 1519. The Aztecs were a group with about about a population of ten thousand people. They were never really friendly with other civilizations and took over some civilizations as a result of their unfriendly gestures. It’s also known that the Aztecs were a
polytheistic group that practiced disturbing activities. Regardless of what is found about the
Aztecs, they are still one of the higher­end civilizations in comparison to us currently for many reasons: dominant among other civilizations, faithful towards their religious beliefs, and advancement of agriculture and organization.
The Aztecs are civilized when compared to us today due to their dominance among other civilizations. Aztec rulers conquered many territories over the course of the years 1427 to 1520; some rulers were Itzcoatl, Motecuhzome Ihullcamina, Axayacati, Tizoc, Ahuizotl, and
Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin (
Territorial Acquisitions by Aztec Rulers
, Document 1). Through the
Aztec’s gaining of land, the Aztecs are presented as dominant and strong due to lack of territorial

losses. The Aztecs can be seen as civilized when compared to us because we currently are protecting our land, not allowing others to take over. What the Aztec’s did and what we do are similar because both the Aztecs and us are protecting what belongs to us with the exception of us today trying to gain land from countries. Furthermore, it is depicted from the image in Document
2,
Codex Mendoza
, that the Aztecs when fighting other civilizations, they tipped over enemy temples and lit it on fire and it is also depicted that Aztec warriors were large and strong when one is seen subduing an enemy. The Aztecs showed their dominance through their size and destruction of temples. Similarly when compared to us today, people work out in order to become more muscular. People today can be seen as being dominant and intimidating due their achievements of becoming muscular. Some of these more masculine people can also be cruel when communicating with those that seem inferior to them (the strong) which is similar to the
Aztecs because they showed their cruelty through tipping over an enemy temple and lighting it on fire. In Document 10, from
Matricule de Tributos
, the image depicts many of the objects the
Aztecs demanded from other civilizations such as 5 strings of greenstone beads, 200 little jars of honey, 400 gourd bowls, or even one bin of maize. The Aztecs, like many civilizations, demanded tributes from conquered territories. It is also stated in this document that “the symbols represent different items that people in the provinces needed to deliver or they could expect military repercussions” This is similar to us today because of the subject of work; there is always someone better than another at a workplace. A person is to work for another person in order to gain money and survive. Like the Aztecs, people who had been conquered gave the Aztecs what they wanted in order to survive and protect themselves. In Document 7,
World Civilizations: the
Global Experience
,
the Aztecs have been said to have used “the cult of war and large­scale

human sacrifice for political purposes to terrorize their neighbors and subdue the lower classes”
(Peter). The Aztecs had done what was best for them to instill fear into those around them; this shows how the Aztecs were dominant among other civilizations around them. Even in modern day, there are people that hurt others physically and even mentally.
Bullies in school are an example of this because they hurt others to make themselves feel better similarly to the Aztecs in order to establish dominance among others. Due to the dominant trait of the Aztecs, they should be seen as civilized due to the fact that they are similar to us today.
Another reason why the Aztecs should be seen as civilized when compared to us today is due to their strong beliefs in their religion. As it is mentioned in Document 5, from the
Florentine Codex
, a young seventeen­year­old is experiencing his first sacrifice ritual. The document states, “...I was amazed by the physical beauty of the enemy warrior who was killed at the end of the festival. This seasoned warrior, whom we change from a human into a god…”
(Florentine Codex). The Aztec’s belief in their religion was strong enough that they felt that it was justified to sacrifice others for their gods. This is similar to what some religions practice presently where animals are the sacrifices instead of humans. Another example that exemplifies the Aztec’s practices is the image from Document 6 from the
Codex Mendoza
. It is depicted
that an Aztec man is carrying a dead body up a temple to sacrifice to their god while another dead body is laying on the ground. The Aztecs did not feel that one sacrifice was enough to satisfy their god; from this, the Aztecs can be seen as very serious about their religion. Today, there are many other people who participate in extreme practices and feel the need to harm others also.
The actions of the Aztecs when compared to what some other people are doing currently aren’t that different from each other. Furthermore, in Document 2,
The History of the Indies of New

Spain
, an Aztec priest states “...we shall find our rest, our comfort, and our grandeur. There our name will be praised and our Aztec nation made great…. Our god orders us to call this place
Tenochtitlan” (Friar Diego). The Aztec priest from this quote can be seen to have the ability to speak to his god. Today, we also continue to believe in priests many religions causing us to be not so different from the Aztecs. The Aztecs should be seen as civilized in comparison to us today due to the Aztec’s strong religious beliefs.
The Aztecs should be seen as civilized when compared to us currently because of their advancements in agriculture. According to Document 8,
Matricula de Tributos
, it is depicted that the Aztecs had an organized agricultural layout. A farmer’s house is located nearby rows of corn, squash, beans, and flowers and this goes on throughout the whole layout. The Aztecs had
their own way of getting food through their organization in agriculture. In addition to this, in
Document 8,
World Civilizations: The Global Experience
, it is stated that “the Aztecs developed an ingenious system for irrigating agricultural called chinampas” (Peter). Through the Aztecs creating this ingenious system, they were able to gain more crops than ever before. From the two documents mentioned, we are similiar to the Aztecs in today’s time because we have advanced in technology by being able to automate almost everything including food production. Furthermore, in Document 9, the Mural by Diego Rivera, it is depicted that the men are harvesting the crops while the women are making food. This exemplifies how the Aztecs were successful with growing crops due to the fact that they were able to harvest said crops. Due to the Aztec’s agricultural advances, they should be seen as civilized when compared to us today.
In conclusion, the Aztecs should be seen as civilized when compared to us today. There are many reasons as to why the Aztecs should be seen as civilized. The Aztecs should be seen as

civilized because having dominance over others isn’t so different from what some people do today. An example of this would be something such as work hierarchies. Another reason why the
Aztecs should be seen as civilized because of their strong beliefs in their religion. Lastly, the
Aztecs should be seen as civilized because of their advancements and organization in agriculture.
This is important to know about because a civilization should not be judged upon based on some inhumane practices done. It teaches others to look at every perspective when judging someone.
00 It can also be said that the Aztecs are barbaric and uncivilized when compared to us today.
According to Document 7,
World Civilizations: The Global Experience
, the Aztecs are thought to have practiced “Aztec sacrifice, accompanied by ritual cannibalism, was a response to a lack of protein” (Peter). The Aztecs from this document can be interpreted as barbaric due to them eating one another and also sacrificing one another. This would not be very normal to us today and the Aztecs would hence seem barbaric.